Employees of Jinchuan Group inspect the silage packing in Jishishan county, Gansu province. [Photo/Jinchuan Group]
Jinchuan Group has helped farmers in Jishishan county, Gansu province, turn corn stalks into silage over eight years, addressing winter feed shortages and reducing waste.
Previously, farmers harvested only grain, burning stalks or using them for fuel, while livestock producers faced high costs for external feed in winter and spring. In 2019, the group's assistance team in Jishishan promoted forage corn planting under the "grain-to-feed" policy, starting with demonstration farms and direct subsidies to ease concerns.
Over eight years, the group has invested more than 1 million yuan (over $149,000) annually in packing film, netting, and other supplies, and trained over 60 machine operators. In 2025, it spent 2.6 million yuan on 13 self-propelled forage harvesters and 22 automatic balers suited to mountainous terrain.
Since 2025, Jinchuan has also provided 1.2 million yuan annually for compound fertilizer. This year, it allocated 200,000 yuan for two standardized silage pits and a 1,200-square-meter paved yard at a cooperative in Cuijia village. As the model expanded, the team provided on-site training on harvest timing, chopping length, and sealed storage.
The program benefits crop farmers, livestock producers, local workers, and village collectives by creating a circular model of forage planting, silage storage, livestock breeding, and income growth.
